Sizing saw



NOV- 5, 1929- v. A. SMITH ET A1. 1,734,099

` slzING1 sAw.

Filed yJuly 15. 1924 6 Sheets-{hee'c 2 F7 la.

INVENTORS. VER/wl A. 6mm

. C/Mm Es .Bw ATTORNEY Nov. 5', 19294.

V. A. SMITH ET AL SIZING SAW Filed July l5, 1924 6 Sheets-Shee't 3INVENToR VER/mv A. S/v/r/f. Gf/mss Bic/WM. l

i@ ATTORNLYR/ Nov. 5, 1929. v. A. sMm-l r-:T AL l l 1,734,099

SIZING SAW Nov. 5, 1929. v. A. SMITH ET A| 1,734,099

sIzING sAw Filed July 15, 1924 l lf ssheets-sheet 6 INVENTORS. SMT/1.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1929 rica;

vERNoN A. SMITH, 0E BERKELEY, AND orrAnLEs BAGEMAN, on OAKLAND,CALIFORNIA SIZNG SAW Application :'iled July 15,

Our invention is an improved sizing ma` chine particularly applicablefor sizing blocks of wood.

The object of our invention is to provide a machine into which the woodis fed and conveyed through cutters which trimv two edges of the block.The block is now automatically transferred to conveyors angularlypositioned to the first conveyor, which conveys said block throughcutters to trim the other two edges.

Another object of our invention is in the mechanical method for trimmingblocks formed of a series of thin slabs in which the pile of slabsformed into a block is placed lengthwise on a carrier chain and ispressed by heavy rollers so as to hold all the slabs in close contactwithout relative movement and to carry the blocks through engaging sawsto trim all the slabs on the side edges. rlhe trimmed block is carriedto a position adjacent the transverse endless beltcarriers, the

block being brought to rest actuates pushing Our machine is especiallydesigned to make thin wood slabs such as honey comb frames, pencilslabs, or other slabs of very thin material which must be trimmedaccurately and particularly square to within very small limits.

To effect these objects there are a number of novel details such aspivotedv arms to hold back a block until the block ahead is fed asuficient distance. These arms also operate to strip oif or remove vanexcess number of slabs if too many are positioned to makethe block.

Another detail is in the mechanism for stopping the blocks in theirlongitudinal movement whereby the stopping of the blocks operate atrigger for starting the transverse 1924. @rial No. 726,099.

pushers. These are so arranged to accelerate the blocks transverselyfrom a zero speed to that of the cross conveyors, and to position themaccurately in such conveyors. v The trigger also operates a device whichraises the upper cross conveyors so that the block may be properlyinserted. Y Another detail of our machine is the mechanism for movingthe blocks or piles of thin pieces cross wise into the transverse conveyor so that all the separate pieces of the pile will remain in thesame position in which the longitudinal sides were trimmed so that thetransverse cuts for each` piece or slab will be square to its sideedges. Our machine is also designed to allow a variation of the spacingof the several transverse belts sol that the blocks may be cut intodifferent widths by the transverse saws.,k Another object of ourinvention is `to provide a machine'of the character described, which isaccurate, rapid and efficient in operaf tion. y

Other objects and advantages will be more fully described in thefollowing detailed de-4 scription. s

ln the annexed drawings, we have illustrated the preferred form of ourinvention, but it may also be embodied in other forms, and in thisapplication we desire to cover our invention in whatever form it may 'beem bodied.

Figure l is a side elevation of our machine. Figure 2 is a plan view ofthe same. Figure 3 is an end elevation. Figure 4 is an end elevationwith parts broken away to show the construction.y Figure 5v is anenlarged plan view of the cross feed control.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view of the same. Y

Figure 7 is an end view of the cross feed control. I I

Figure 8 is a rear view of the same. Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectionalview of the conveyor chain.

Figure l0 is an enlarged side view 'of the feed control gate.

l'Referring more particularly to-thejdraw-v 'i ing, our machine consistsof a suitable frame l, over which the main conveyor chain 2 is adaptedto travel. This chain travels the entire length of the machine and ismounted upon a sprocket wheel 3, journaled to the frame 1 at the forwardend thereof, and over a sprocket wheel 4 mounted upon -a shaft 5 whichfis journaled at the rear lend of thc frame. (The shaft 5 is rotated byka `maind'ri ve shaft 6 through gears 7 and 8, the drive shaft beingdriven .by a motor 9 through a reducing gear by a belt 10 extending overpulleys on said shaft motor. The shaft 5 extends substantially the widthof the machine and is journaled in suitable lbearings secured to theframe 1.

A plurality of rollers 11 are journaledfon rods 12 which are 'secured'to the frame l1. These rollers are positioned -a'bove the chain 2 Latintervals throughout its length, and are adapted t0 :bear upongthetop'of the block te bel sized, to hold -it :in posit-ionen saidchain. The frame 1 is formed with a rail .13 lover Whichlthe chain 2passes to prevent lit -from sagging under the weight of the blocks androllers 11.

f A pairlof saws 1'4fand 15 are lpositionedone onA either sideoffthechain 2 and are mounted on'the shaftef a 'motor l16 which issecured to 'fthe Vframe 1. Thusa's the block of wood is conveyed pastthe saws 14fand v15on'theconveyor 2 the edges thereof are itrimmed thedesired amount. The 'blocks Vare now conf veyed practically the entirelength of the conveyor 2 before being Itrans'ferredto =the crossconveyor 417.

The cross conveyor 1s preferablypositioned at right anglesto theconveyor2 and consists of a .plurality of super-imposed pairs of chains18 and 19. The lower chains 1 9 'extend yover sprockets"20ourna'led-onlthe iframe 1 and over sprockets 21 secured to the ldriveshaft 6, and suitable means are provided for lateral adjustment andalignment.

A'p'la'te 22 is positioned under the iupper reach ofthe chain 19 :andlis fadapted tosupport said reach to prevent sagging thereof.`

The chains 18 are mounted on frames which areV journaledon a `shaft 24.Said shaft is journaled in ysuitable bearings secured to the frame landextends the length of the machine directly overfthe-shaft. The

shaft 24 is driven from the shaft 6 through gears 25 thereon. Y

The chains 18 extend over-sprockets l26fsecuredtothe shaft 24, sprockets27journaled in the forward end Vof the frame 23, andsprockets`28`journaled 4on posts 29 whichaare threaded in the frame 23.Thus` the .chains 18 may be 4tightened'by raising the posts 29. ToLpreventsagging of 1the lower reach :of the chains 18, a channel30 `in 1is formed in-tlhe bottom Iof the 'iframe '23, and fingers 31-31 areformed on the links of the `chain and enter-said channel thusholdingthe'c'hain close fto `the iframe. The`frames23 alread- *the rod.Said rod is supported in guides 34-34 in which a vertical movement ispermitted aswill be further described. Saws 35 are mounted on the shaft36of the motor 9 .and .are positioned adjacent the conveyors 18 and 19to trim the ends of the Vblock as it is conveyed by the chains.

The block after traversing the length of the chain 2 is automaticallytransferred to the 'cross conveyors 18 and 19 which will now bedescribed. As seen in Figure 5 the block is carried by the chain2-against a trigger 37, which `is pivoted to a plate 38 extend ing overthe chain 2. A link 39 -is pi-votedt'o the trigger 37 and to a bellcrank lever 40, which is pivoted to the frame 1. A llocking bar 41 ispivoted Vtothe frame 1 adjacent 'the bell'crank 40and is joined theretoVbyza link 42. Thus it is'evident that when thetri'gger 37 `:is movedinwardly the `bar 41 willrmo've outwardly, and freea-dog 43 whichis'lpivo'ted to a wheel 44 journaled on the shaft 5. A ratchet -Wheel45Vis secured to thefshaft 5 adjacent the wheel 44, and a sprinfr `46urges thedog 43 i'ntoengagement with said ratchet wheel, thus draggingthe wheel i44aro und until "itis released by lthe dog again engaging the4lower surfaceof the fbar 41, whichipull-s it out of engagement with:the ratchet Wheel.. l

A cam 47 is 'adjustably mounted `on the ledge of the wheel 44 andengagesaroller 48 zonan arm 49 and depresses ysaid xarm andswings 'aleve`r=50 to which it is pivoted. Thus lby adjustingathe cam th'e timeof movement'of .the lever 50 `is determined. This lever 50 'iskeyed toafshaft T51, Which shaft is'ljournaled in the frame 1 and Iis;rocked bythe swingingcfzthe lever 50. Arms5252 at the endsfof the shaft 5.1 arekeyed thereto anda-re spi-voted to links V5'3-53V Y which 'engage theshaft 32 ateither end Thusrasthe shaft 51. is roc red the shaft 32 israised which `srajises the frames 23, and permits the blocks to beaccurately positionedv between'the chains '18 and A19-beforelbeing engaged byathem- As soonas the cam '47 passes the lroller 48 the framesv23 drop and-engage the block 'to convey it against lthe saws Themovement of the block from the chain 2 to the cross conveyor 17 isaccomplished by means of .pusher plates 54, which. roperate throughguides 55 and ..56 on `the frame v1.

The plates are each linked'to a bar 57'bylinlrs" to the endthereof. Thisbar zhas;a -plate -62 pivoted to the end thereof and extending upwardlyadjacent the wheel 44. A lug 63 on the plate 62 is engaged by a roller64 on the wheel 44, which in its rotation depresses the plate, andactuates the arm 6l to rock the shaft 60. A counter weight 65 is securedto an arm 66 which is secured to the shaft 60, thus the shaft isreturned to its original position along with the pusher plates 54 afterthe roller 64 leaves the lug 63.

When the blocks strike the trigger 5T tney are detained for a shortinterval, therefor it is necessary to space them apart on the chain 2.rWe accomplish this by means or a gate 68, which consists of two arms 69and 70 journaled on the shaft of the first roller l1. Each of the arms69 and 70 has shoes 7l and 7 2 respectively formed on the end thereof,which contact with the blocks. The arm 69 is counterweighted andncrmally hangs downwardly adjacent the chain 2. The arm 70 is held in araised position by a finger 73 thereon engaging a pin .74 on the arm P9.Thus as a block is moved along the chain 2 it engages the shoe 7l andraises the arm 69, and allowing the arm 70 to swing down behind it.4 Theshoe 7 2 slides on the block in a position shown in dash and dottedlines in Figure l. f After the end of the bloclr passes, the shoe 72slides down the end thereof between the adjacent blocks. The next blockengages the shoe 72, as shown in dotted line in Figure 10, until theprevious bloclr has passed the arm 69, when said arm drops raising arm70 and permitting the next bloclr to move forwardly. The blocks are thusspaced the proper amount.

From the above description it will be apparent that our mechanicalmethod of trimming blocks (which may be of soli-d wood or a series ofthin slabs piled up to form a block) comprises in brief moving theblocks on an endless carrier and pressing heavily on the top of theblocks so as to retain them accurately in position, trimming thelongitudinal sides by saws as the blocks pass along, having the blocksthemselves accurate, a tripping device which separates transverseconveyor belts and then moving the blocks sideways with an acceleratingmotion from zero to the speed of the transverse conveyors and clamping a`block between upper and lower transverse conveyors under pressure soas'to hold the bloclr true while it is cut into short sections.

Our machine has been designed for accurate work in trimming to definitedimensions within close limits and in particular for feeding Vthe blocksto the cross cutting saws so that the sides and cross edges will besquare to Within very close limits.

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. A sizingv machine comprising a conveyor, cutters adjacent saidconveyor, a cross conveyor positioned at an `angle to said Afirst namedconveyor, cutters adjacent said cross conveyor, and transfer meansadapted to act upon the work to move it from the first conveyor to thecross conveyor, said cross conveyor comprising a plurality 'of pairs4 ofsuper-imposed conveyors, and meansto separate said conveyor pairs priorto the transfer.

2\. A sizing machine comprising a conveyor, cutters adjacentsaidconveyor, a cross conveyor positionedy at an angle to said rst namedconveyor, cutters adjacent said cross conveyor, and transfer meansadapted to act upon the work to move it from the first conveyor to thecross conveyor, said cross conveyor comprising a plurality of pairs ofsuper-imposed conveyors, and means to separate said conveyor pairs priorto the transfer, pusher piates adjacent said conveyor, arms secured tosaid plates, a disc, means to rotate said disc, control means for saiddisc, means joining said disc and said arms, whereby said arms arereciprocatecl, and means joining said disc and said separating means toactuate said separating means.

3. A sizing machine comprising in combination a longitudinal conveyoradapted to carry blocks, a series of rollers mounted above the conveyoradapted to exert pressure on the said blocks, trimming saws to trim thelongitudinal sides of the block, a cross conveyor comprising upper andlower endless belts, means to arrest the longitudinal movement of theblock on the longitudinal conveyor and means actuated by the arrestingdevice to elevate the upper cross conveyor belt to allow insertion ofthe block, and means to cut the block when carried by the crossconveyors.

4'. A sizing machine, as claimed in claim 3 having in addition a gate tospace the blocks on the longitudinal conveyor, said gate comprising apair of pivoted arms and means to operate one arm by the movement of theother arm.

5. In a sizing machine of the character described, a conveyor and a vgate positioned above theY same and comprising forwardly and backwardlyextending arms, a pivotal connection for said arms and means toallow the'baclrwardly lextendingarmA to rest on a block as it is being fed by theconveyor and the forwardly extending arm being positioned to block anapproaching block, said backwardly extending arm being adapted to pivotdownwardly Vby its own gravity after a block is passed thereunder andmeans on said rearwardly extending arm to engage and to raise theforwardly extending arm so as to allow passage of another block, afterthe backwardlyV extending arm is lowered.

6. A trimming machine comprising in combination a longitudinal conveyor,a plurality of rollers positioned above said conveyor and adapted tobear upon-a block, trimming saws to cut the longitudinal sides of ablock, a series of cross conveyors having-opposed conveyor lie beltsadapted to lopen v'and -close V4for receiving and igrippzing a viblock,Ymeans ito :arrest the movement orf the block-oppositethecrossconveyors, meanszactuatedibyitheanresting-means to move theblock from :the longitudinal to cross conveyors, `said meansaccelerating the speed from zero to thatof the cross conveyors Vconveyoryfor :receiving the object, and means for pushing the work from thelongitudinal conveyor to the transverse conveyor.

8. 'In asizing'machine lof the character described, aiconve-yor adaptedto advance an objectthereonaa setof cutters,a transverseconveyorcomprising two elements mounted for opening and closing movements, asecond set of cutters disposed inoperative relation to said Jtransverseconveyor; yoperating means for opening the transverse @conveyor forreceiving 'the object; means pushing the object from the firstconveyorto the transverse conveyor, whereby ,said obj ect is carried,past thesecond set'of cutters pandimeansfactuated by the advancing `object `rendering lthe :said operating r'means active.

9. VIn-a sizing :machine ofthe lcharacter described, a conveyor adaptedto advance an object thereon; aset of cutters, said conveyor carryingsaid objectpast said setfofcutters; afplurality of'transverse conveyors,each'compri-sing two velements `mounted Vfor opening andclosingmovements;a second set of'cutters disposed vin operative relation gtosaid transverse conveyor; operating means forsimultaneously openingall,A lthe transverse conveyors Yfor receiving Ythe object; and meanspushing the object .from 'the first :conveyor to :the transverseconveyor, whereby said object is carried `past saidssecond set ,ofcutters.

10. VIna sizingmacliineofithecharacter described, 4a conveyor adapted toadvance an object thereon affirstset ofcutters, said conveyor carryingVsaid object :past said set of cutters; a lplurality of itransverseconveyors, each comprising two elements mounted .for opening andclosingmovement; second set of cutters disposed in 'operative `relation:to said transverse conveyor; `Operating :means for simultaneouslyopening'all the transverse conveyors for receiving Jthe lobject; xmeanspushing the object from `the first conveyor to the transverse conveyor;and means actuated bytheadvancing object, rendering the said-operatingmeans active.

11. Ina sizing machine of the'character described, fa conveyor `adaptedto advance .an

cutters; a transverse conveyor comprising` two elements mounted foropening and closing movement; a. second set of cutters disposed inoperative relation to said transverse conveyor; means for pushing theobject toward` the transverse conveyor; imeans for opening thelatter;andmeans actuating both of the said means in vtimed relation, said lastactuating means being arranged for operation by the advancingobject.

13. In a sizing machine ofthe characterndescribed, a lfirst set of saws;a conveyor carrying an object past said set of saws; opposed crossconveyors adapted to open andlclose for receiving and gripping anobject; alfeed mechanism to transfer the object from the first conveyorto the cross conveyors; means to operate said feed mechanism and to openlsaid opposed conveyors in timed relation; and a second set of saws fortrimming the object carried by said opposed cross conveyors. f

14. In a sizing machine of the character described, a first set of saws;a conveyor carrying an object pastsaid set of saws.; opposed crossconveyors adapted to open andv close for vreceiving and gripping anobject; a feed mechanism to transfer the object from the rst conveyor tothe cross conveyors; means to operate said feed mechanism and to opensaid opposed conveyors in timed relation; and a second set of saws fortrimming the object carried by said opposed cross conveyors, saidoperating means being arranged to be actuated by theobject carriedV bysaid Vfirst conveyor. l

15. In a sizing machine of the character described, a first set of saws;aconveyor carrying an object past said set of saws; opposed crossconveyors adapted to open and close for receiving and gripping anobject; a 'feed mechanismto transfer the object from t-he first conveyorto the cross conveyors; means to arrest the movement of said obj ectopposite said feed mechanism; means actuated by said arresting means tooperate said feed mechanism and open said opposed conveyors in timedrelation; and a second set of saws for trimming the object carried bysaid opposed cross conveyors.

16. In asizing machineofthetcharacter described, a rst set of saws; aconveyor carrying an object past said set of saws; opposed crossconveyors adapted to open and close for receiving and gripping anobject; a feed mechanism to transfer the object from the first conveyorto the cross conveyors; means to arrest the movement of said objectopposite said feed mechanism; means actuated by said arresting means,when acted upon by the object, to operate said feed mechanism and opensaid opposed conveyors in timed relation; and a second set of saws fortrimming the object carried by said opposed cross conveyors.

17. In a sizing machine of the character described, a conveyor, sets ofsaws for trimming the work carried by the conveyor; opposed crossconveyors; means to open and close said opposed conveyors for receivingand gripping said work; and L-feed mechanism for transferring the workfrom the first conveyor to the opposed conveyors; a work-controlled tripfor actuating said cross conveyor opening means and said I feedmechanism in timed relation; and a second set of saws for trimming thework carried by the cross conveyors.

18. In a sizing machine of the character described, a conveyor adaptedto advance an object thereon and a transverse conveyor comprisingcoacting elements mounted to part for allowing the obj ect to entertherebetween and to grip the object thereafter and operating meanseffecting the parting and gripping movements, said operating means beingactuated by the work, sets of saws for trimming said objects, saidconveyors carrying the object past said sets of saws.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. Y

VERNON A. SMITH. CHARLES BACKMAN.

